How do you know once you have meditated?

Question

If you were trying to meditate, how do you know whether you did it successfully or not?

Answer 1

You don't know. If you did it right, then you are nothing.

Answer 2

If you meditate for a few minutes you most certainly will not notice anything. If you meditate for a month for a few minutes a day, you might not notice anything. If you meditate for one year, for a few hours a week, you may start to notice a little something. But if you just resign yourself to the practice of meditation and recognize that it is something of benefit that should be adopted for a lifetime and the ups and downs are less important than the day in day out practice over time recognizing there is nothing to achieve but a changed attitude then you will see results every day. You can take an object of observation and carry it with you throughout your whole day. Like Yogini said, meditation is not {necessarily} sitting in the full lotus position sequestered in some mountain retreat for months or years on end - though this does sound quite appealing. Meditation is familiarization. It is a process that takes place in the mind with body and speech acting as concomitants or helpers - so with this in mind - you can meditate while doing all things. It just depends at what you are directing your mental activity, your motivation and your dedication. Also, if you try and do all things with the wish to help all sentient beings then your motivation is vast and you won't think twice about helping those you encounter with almost anything which is helping them to achieve happiness. Thinking along these lines of reasoning is meditation and you can do it anywhere at anytime in all things with a little practice.

Answer 3

You will know when you are not distracted by such hindering thoughts as those. You will simply feel peacefulness whilst being focused and centrered; you will hopefully also feel a greater amount of compassion & may have possibly (hopefully) made some realizations, however small, about reality.

Remember that the mind that clings to anything, including thoughts and feelings (and even meditation), is still bound by ego.

Ultimately it depends on the type of meditation. If you practice zen you may not think or feel anything, you may not even be sure that you are still 'you', or that you even exist. In visualisation/oral (mantra) meditations you will hopefully become more like the object of your focus, I.e. Avalokitsvara- compassion for all life, Manjushri- Complete unhindered wisdom, Vajrapani- Destruction of ignorance, etc. And if you try insight meditations then you should feel the truths of the dharma becoming one with your awareness & perception; I.e. Imperminance, emptyness, truths of suffering, etc.

Your intention affects the meditation, try to do it with a pure mind with the intention to become enlightened for the sake of all sentient beings.

Answer 4

After Meditation practise it is often the case that there is a period of disorientation and of missed time. There is a period of pain as the mind becomes aware of "self" again and the various stimulii have some affect on the consciousness once again.

There is always a wonderful memory of the experience which will never go away and there is often a sense of having learned a valuable lesson within the mind. On later practise it will become easier to reach the Jhanas as the mind becomes accustomed to the initial stages of concentration and letting go.

Peace from a Buddhist....

Answer 5

Remove success from the equation. You sit daily without expectation and remain open to the possibilities. Meditation results take a while and are very subtle. You might have a big awakening or just have to keep pulling yourself back to your breath. The fact that you dedicated yourself to sit and rest is a beautiful event regardless of the outcome. Best to you. And keep meditating (anything can be meditation, not just sitting), it does your soul/body/mind good. Blessings on your path.

Answer 6

To Learn Mindfulness Meditation:
http://www.vipassana.com/meditat...
*Mindfulness in Plain English:
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.

~Encourage you to pick up, and daily use this Basic Starter Kit on Meditation below:
An Excellent Starter Kit on Learning Insight {mindfulness) meditation & Buddhism is:
http://www.sharonsalzberg.com/sh...

http://www.buddhistinformation.c...
*Encourging to read the Book:
"Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness
By: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
~ Using Mindfulness {which you learned from Mindfulness [insight] Meditation, to Find true Happiness.

http://www.vipassana.com/meditat...
Accurately Speaks on Mindfulness, an Important Part of meditation.

*Encourage You to buy the Book:
"Mindfulness in Plain English"
by; Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
~ It is a Most Excellent *Step by Step Manuel on HOW TO Meditate Correctly.

Hope this helps ya,

Metta {lovingkindness & friendship) to Everyone !

Answer 7

Meditation isn't about being successful. That's your mind.

Let that thought pass just as any other. That's meditation.

The most basic form is to focus on your breath. It helps if you sit down somewhere quiet, but that's not necessary. Thoughts come, but you let them pass. You go beyond thought. It's O.K. if you get stuck on one awhile, just go back to your breath.

It's all about shifting your identity to that beyond thoughts and emotions, getting in touch with the unmanifested.

Answer 8

When I meditated, I knew I had meditated because I had been in a relaxed, focused state for twenty min. and it seemed like only a few seconds. I felt more energized and relaxed. That's how I knew.

Answer 9

Well, was the room free of external stimuli and did you spend a fair amount of time with yourself and your thoughts? If so, you've meditated and it was successful.

Answer 10

TRY TO LET GO OF THE BAD STUFF IN LIFE AND KEEP ALL THE GOOD>
AFTER FOCUSING ON THE DETAILS, TAKE A BREAK AND VIEW THE BIG PICTURE.
ITS A MATTER OF USING ALL YOUR SENSES.
1. IT LOOKS GOOD !
2. IT SMELLS GOOD !
3. IT TASTE GOOD !
4. IT SOUNDS GOOD !
5. FEELS GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRY TO LET GO OF FEAR AND BE MINDFULL OF
YOURSELF.
IT TAKES MUCH PRACTICE> TAKE YOUR TIME AND ALL GOOD THINGS WILL FOLLOW !!!
THE MIND WILL CLEAR SO ALWAYS JUST TAKE A
DEEP BREATH AND LOOK OUT AND ABOUT>
THE ROAD TO ENLIGHTENMENT IS WONDERFULL BUT TRY NOT TO PUSH IT TOO HARD!!
ALL GOOD THINGS COME WITH TIME AND PRACTICE !!
BEST OF LUCK AND WISHES!!
E-MAIL ANY TIME IF YOU NEED TO ASK MORE AND I'LL
TRY TO GET BACK TO YOU ASAHP (AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE) LOL :-) JR (AKA : CATMAN )

Answer 11

Mediation is relaxation of the brain and lay there and know that he is God, if you calm your own thoughts you can tap into the spirit with in and he will give you blessings and guiding into all truth, you need his spirit for this, here is how you get it!
http://www.freedomcame. /glory/ put com after freedomcame. and before /glory the system wont let me post the link normally